Existentialist Consumerism

[_fustian]

Current Music: TISM -- Garbage

Back in 2007, when I first noticed Hummer advertising in this country, I was incensed. I contemplated launching a "Scratch a Hummer" campaign (or at the very least a scathing LJ entry!) Now it seems GM are likely to dump Hummer. So that's good. (Speaking of junk the Americans send us, apparently the whole US FTA

Comments

[kremmen]

While losing Hummers would be no loss, losing Saab would be sad.

[_fustian]

Meh. It's just a car company.

[strangedave]

Over the last few years (but particularly in the one just passed), I have come to appreciate that while overly large, powerful, vehicles designed for off road use may, indeed, be both problematic and undesirable in the inner city, in some environments they may be an eminently sensible choice. I can't bring myself to hate the vehicle or cheer it's likely passing, much as I'd be appalled to see one in the inner city, untouched by off road mud.

It is no surprise that the FTA was disastrous for Australia, or that the process is described by being driven by motivations other than trade. It pretty much confirms all my opinions of the process at the time.

[_fustian]

I can't bring myself to hate the vehicle

Really? To me, the Hummer is an icon of late-period US Imperialism: a Dennis Leary parody of a car combining grotesque hubris and crass ignorance, moronically flipping a finger at civilisation as it slides backwards into the tar pits.

It pretty much confirms all my opinions of the process at the time.

It pretty much confirms all my predictions from the time. What a pity politicians can't be held accountable for gross negligence.

[strangedave]

A friend of mine, Skot, has recently returned to Perth from London after several years, and returns filled with enormous steampunk enthusiasm. Discussion groups and musical endeavours are mooted, and many idiosyncratic projects are being planned. I shall let you know more soon.

I would have been interested to hear your opinions on some of the discussions at the Wastelands II steampunk con late last year. I found a lot more to talk about than I thought I would.

I would have been particularly interested to hear your response to my panel length rant about how steampunk needs to put effort into saving itself from being dominated by fetishisation of the oppressors of the colonial era. The majority reaction seemed to be discomfort that I was 'harshing their squee'.

[_fustian]

many idiosyncratic projects are being planned. I shall let you know more soon.

Coolness.

I would have been interested to hear your opinions on some of the discussions at the Wastelands II steampunk con late last year.

Wish I'd been able to make it.

steampunk needs to put effort into saving itself from being dominated by fetishisation of the oppressors of the colonial era.

I doubt there's much danger of that.

I'm currently working on a "Steampunk Manifesto" post for the ALTV blog. I'd be interested in your feedback, perhaps pre-publication.

[strangedave]

My point is that the majority of steampunk costuming is about adopting the clothing of the upper classes of colonial era powers (with a nod to the fiction read by etc...). Nice Edwardian suits and all that. Some relevant discussion linked to hereI realise people are doing some interesting things in the steampunk etc area, and you probably know what is out there far better than I, but it does seem that Victorian/Edwardian upper class dress is quite dominant, and the specific costume of the colonial powers (pith helmets, military dress, etc) getting a fair showing as well. No one sets out to fetishize colonial oppression, they just set out to enjoy nice clothes, Boys Own Adventure, and reviving the fiction of the era -- but that all naturally rather tends to put rich white folk from the nice countries into the starring roles (rich white men, for the most part). It may be just me banging on about the limited nature of what I've seen, and perhaps you've seen people pushing beyond that paradigm at Euchronia etc. But it is a bit of a

[_fustian]

steampunk costuming is about adopting the clothing of the upper classes of colonial era powers

Yes, it is; fashion is always about adopting and recontextualising elements of existing styles. Steampunk is fundamentally and perhaps necessarily an assemblage art, and it happens to use the fashion of the 19th Century as a major found element-at least in part to signify its other foci. And let's face it: the most aesthetically stimulating European fashion from that period was exclusive to the wealthy. (Having said that, Sophie's Suffragette costume manages to draw firmly on middle class fashion to great effect.)

I'll have to look to Bakunin and Emma Goldman, or perhaps my fascination with Victorian era occultism, for inspiration.

Crowleyesque robes and comic-effect headpieces would be perfectly at home in any Steampunk setting, imo. :)